Power surges can ultimately damage most electrical appliances or cause an uncontrollable fire.
For this reason, investing in surge protectors can save you a great deal by assuring you that your appliances are safeguarded from high voltage.
Even if they get damaged later, the damage will not be caused by power surges.
While installing electricity or some electrical appliances in your mobile home, you may want to know….
Should Surge Protectors Be Utilized In A Mobile Home?
Of course, YES! Power surge protectors are meant to protect devices against high power voltage (surges), whether installing these devices in a permanent home, mobile home, or mobile trailer. Additionally, some special surge protectors are designed and installed along the cable lines to keep away spikes that might be produced along with the cables.
Now that you know the utilization of surge protectors is not limited to the type of home you have, you may find it necessary to know more about surge protectors.
This article will cover the basics of surge protectors, how to use them, things to consider before buying, the differences between surge protectors and power strips, common appliances that must have surge protectors, etc.
How Does A Surge Protector Work?
Electric devices are typically plugged into electrical sockets and turned on to function.
However, these devices function optimally when there is a stable and consistent flow of electric voltage, which a meter socket may not guarantee.
Literally, all sockets are incapacitated to provide a steady voltage; there are times when it will get lower, and sometimes, especially during thunderstorms, it will get very high.
A surge protector provides defense for your devices by rerouting the excess or dangerous voltage and only allowing the expected normal amount to flow through a device.
The standard voltage for many commercial and residential devices is 120 volts.
A surge protector becomes very relevant when the voltage gets above 120 volts.
It prevents high voltage from damaging the plugged devices by sending the excess power to a grounding wire positioned within the protector.
Some of the issues that can cause fluctuation in power flow or power surges and spikes to include;
- Faulty wiring
- Power outage
- Downed power lines
- Lighting or electrical storms
- Large appliances that are being set on-off regulation.
- Bad electrical components
How To Safely Use A Surge Protector
For any electrical appliance, safety is key.
You may consider the following safety tips when using a surge protector.
1. Plug In Correctly
A good surge protector usually has a polarized plug, which has one blade that is larger than the other.
Though rarely, you will find some surge protectors with a three prong grounded plug.
If you are plugging the protector into a wall, avoid using a three to the two-prong adapter and only plug one protector into a single wall receptor.
2. Avoid Daisy Chains
In no circumstance should you plug in a surge protector to a power strip or another surge protector.
3. Keep It Close
The shorter the distance from the surge protector to the device, the safer it is. Always choose a surge protector with a short cord.
4. Give The Protector Free Space
Avoid putting surge protectors or even cords under a carpet or rug. This will help reduce wear and tear from being stepped on.
5. Avoid Overloading
If you have several high-wattage types of equipment in your house, always avoid plugging them in one surge protector because this will overload it.
Instead, you should divide the equipment into different surge protectors. For heat-producing appliances, plug them directly into wall receptacles.
6. Check The Temperatures
Always check the temperatures of your surge protectors, and whenever you feel it is hot, then replace them immediately. Most surge protectors have protection against overheating.
7. Avoid Water
Keep surge protectors away from any moisture or water.
8. Check For Wear And Tear
Always inspect your surge protector and replace it whenever you notice wear and tear.
When you feel like you want to install surge protectors in many parts of your house, it is advisable to seek a technician to help you out.
Also, involve professionals when you wish to replace surge protectors in your mobile home electric system.
Eight Surge Protection Purchase Considerations
Always check for these features before purchasing a surge protector
1. Safety Rating
Choose a surge protector with either UL or ETL rating. The ratings mean it has been tested and approved by specific safety standards.
2. Capacity
Can also be defined as a joule rating. It signifies the amount of energy the protector can receive before failing. A rating of 600 or more can handle most of the surges produced in a household.
3. Warning System
Purchase a surge protector that warms you whenever it wears out or weakens. Most preferably, choose those that stop delivering power to an appliance whenever they can’t protect the device.
4. Many Outlets
Find a surge protector with several well-designed outlets where you can plug in more than one device.
5. USB Connectivity
Check if it has either one or two amps ports that will help you charge a few portable devices like phones and power banks.
6. Size
If you are a regular traveler, you can buy a small single outlet surge protector, most likely to protect your laptop or phone when you charge while traveling.
Otherwise, you can choose any other surge protector that is relatively large and has several outlets.
7. Warranty
For any electronic appliance, a warranty is important because it gives you a leeway to return the device when it gets damaged within the warranty time.
Not all power surge protectors have a warranty.
8. Use
Depending on the functionality of the appliance you wish to plug on a surge protector, be sure to choose one that fits that use, especially if you are purchasing a surge protector for refrigerators or medical appliances.
Do not consider the price too much since the cheap survey protectors may cost you little but will not serve for long.
Doesn’t A Surge Protector And A Power Strip Do The Same Thing?
A power strip resembles a surge protector, but the two are significantly different somehow.
The surge protector is meant to protect electronic devices from power spikes that can easily damage electronic appliances or, worse, start a fire.
A surge protector works by routing any electricity surge back to the grounding wire.
On the flip side, a power strip simply adds the number of power outlets but does not protect devices.
Apart from protecting devices from high voltages, some surge protectors have several outlet ports.
Common Appliances That Need Power Surge Protectors
A surge protector serves a vital role in ensuring that your devices are safe from damages that can come with an unstable electric supply.
You can use surge protectors on your most expensive devices and those with very sensitive microprocessors.
These devices include television, fridges, charging devices, laptops, computers, and desktop computers.
Avoid plugging devices like iron boxes, dehumidifiers, coffee cookers, electric cookers, and alarm clocks.
Sources
https://www.geico.com/living/home/home-protection/surge-protectors/amp/
